Hepatica acutiloba - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Ranunculaceae
Habitat
Mesic woods, calcareous woodlands.
Associates
Distribution
Most of the eastern half of the US except NJ, FL, RI, LA.
Morphology
Low herbaceous perennial. Leaves basal, tri-lobed or occasionally 5-7 lobes; lobes triangular, mostly longer than broad, the angles acute. Flowers white, or pink to pale blue, petals absent, sepals 6 to 10, floral bracts typically 3. Stems hairy
Notes
Flowers mid March to mid May
Wetland indicator: Upland
There are often leaves still on this plant when it blooms in the spring, usually persisting below the leaf litter. Some authors call this plant H. nobilis Mill. var. acuta (Pursh) Steyerm. A similar species with blunt rather than sharp lobes is H. americana
References
Peterson, R. T. and M. McKenney. 1996. A Field Guide to Wildflowers:
Northeastern and North-Central North America.
Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, MA
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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Michael Hough © 2005 |